June 7, 2010October 27, 2010Fullerton 2010

Fullerton Voter Guide

Friends for Fullerton’s Future put together this handy voter guide for Republicans in Fullerton and North Orange County. Our voter guide covers important local races in Orange County along with the statewide primaries. It was put together with the help of a few of our trusted Friends. The statewide recommendations are passed along from our friend Allan Bartlett.

Orange County

4th District Supervisor – Shawn Nelson

Nelson will be a leading force against the unions when it’s time to negotiate out of control pensions. His voting record make shim a strong fiscal conservative who is not afraid to stick his neck out for taxpayers. Both of his main opponents are union-supported carpetbaggers who live outside the 4th district.

OC Sheriff-Coroner – Bill Hunt

Just mark the spot for Bill Hunt and watch the establishment scramble like cockroaches. This is one of the most important races in this June election.

Superior Court Judge #16 – Gerald L Klein

In the words of Attorney Bernie, we need to get private practice attorneys seated as judges. People don’t realize how important it is to keep insider government lifers from usurping the judicial powers

Superior Court Judge #50 – Julian Bailey

Mr Bailey’s opponent here, Lon Hurwitz has donated to a laundry list of national liberal Democrats.

County Assessor – Webster Guillory

Webster has done a good job as Assessor.

Clerk Recorder – Hugh Nguyen

The incumbent, Tom Daly, has been lashed over and over on this site for wasting our money and feeding expensive, do-nothing contracts to his pals. Hugh Nguyen is a great candidate.

District Attorney – None, Leave Blank

Sitting DA Tony Rackauckas could not be bothered to fully investigate the well-documented perjury accusations made against Harry Sidhu, although he did find time to prosecute Steve Rocco for a bottle of stolen ketchup.

Public Administrator – Steve Rocco

Treasurer – Shari Freidenrich

Republican Central Committee – 72nd AD

(all or parts of Fullerton, Brea, Placentia, Anaheim & La Habra)

Candidates are designated by Allan Bartlett based on certainty that candidates were Tea Party, Campaign For Liberty, and CRA friendly.

Bruce Whitaker – Tea Party, C4L, CRA friendly
Shawn Nelson – Tea Party friendly
Zonya Townsend – Tea Party, CRA friendly
Rick Rios – Tea Party, CRA friendly
Marilyn Davenport – Tea Party, CRA friendly
Micheal Nutto – CRA friendly

School

Superintendent of Public Instruction – Alexia Deligianni

Statewide

Lt Gov – Sam Aanestad

This is a no brainer. Abel Maldonado should not be rewarded for being the main reason that taxes are higher CA during the last budget cycle. Vote for Sam Aanestad.

Secretary of State – Damon Dunn

Orly Taitz has not been helping herself in the media with her over the top stands on Obama’s birth certificate and a few other issues where she basically has taken herself out of contention because of the way she has come across to voters.

Controller – Tony Strickland

I’m not impressed with Tony’s endorsements the last few years, but he is our choice for Controller here.

Treasurer – Mimi Walters

It’s either this or leave it blank. Her endorsement of repuglican carpetbagger Linda Ackerman last year makes her suspect.

Attorney General – John Eastman

John Eastman is far and away the best conservative choice for CA Attorney General.

Insurance Commissioner – Brian Fitzgerald

The other candidate Mike Villines was the GOP leader in the State Assembly that helped deliver the largest tax increase in CA history. Don’t reward him with your vote here.

BOE 3rd District – Vic Baker or leave blank

No Republican in good conscience could support Michelle Steel anymore after what she did to Irvine Republicans. She has been giving aid and comfort to Democratic Mayor Suhkee Kang because they’re both Korean. Last time I checked, that’s not a very good reason to support anybody, especially if they are ideologically against most everything that you say you are for.

US Senator – Chuck DeVore

This is another no brainer. Chuck gets it. He understands that in the Constitution, there are less than 18 specific enumerated powers delegated to the Congress. He will be a great US Senator and he can beat Barbara Boxer in the fall.

June 7, 2010June 7, 2010Shawn Nelson

Fullerton’s Pension Watchdog Endorses Shawn Nelson

by Travis1 Comment

The Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers (FACT) just sent us the following endorsement of Shawn Nelson for County Supervisor in Orange County’s Fourth District:

“During his 8 years on the Fullerton City Council, Shawn has demonstrated that he is a true friend of the taxpayer,” said Jack Dean, president of FACT. “He’ll make an outstanding County Supervisor.”

Dean noted that FACT was especially impressed with Nelson’s willingness to blow the whistle on a secretive attempt to boost the pensions of Fullerton’s city employees by 25% in 2008.

“Had Shawn not let us know that such a deal was in the works, I doubt that we could have stopped it,” said Dean. “And in light of the subsequent economic meltdown and huge market losses experienced by CalPERS, Fullerton would be in much worse financial shape today.”

“We’re going to need him on the board of supervisors to help maintain the impressive momentum the county has been making on pension reform,” added Dean.

FACT has a special interest in the public pension issue. In 2005, the group successfully blocked an attempt by the Schwarzenegger administration to issue nearly $2 billion in bonds to make the state’s pension payments. The state appealed, and in 2007, FACT won an appellate court ruling that enforced the California Constitution’s ban on unapproved state debt. Article XVI, Section 1 of the California Constitution requires voter approval for long-term state debt exceeding $300,000; FACT won a decision from the Third District Court of Appeal that issuance of a pension bond should not be allowed because it had not been submitted to the electorate. FACT was represented in both cases by the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) in Sacramento.

Next month FACT — once again represented by PLF — will be filing an amicus brief in support of the County’s lawsuit on retroactive pensions (County of Orange v. Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and Board of Retirement). The goal will be to protect the landmark legal decision that FACT and PLF secured in the pension obligation bonds victory (Pension Obligation Bond Committee v. All Persons Interested).

“FACT has a direct interest in protecting and enforcing the precedent it established,” said Dean, “that is, the constitutional principle that major government indebtedness must receive voter approval.”

Under the auspices of FACT, Dean publishes a website called PensionTsunami.com that tracks the growing public pension crisis on a daily basis. He is also vice president of the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility — a watchdog organization that plans to conduct a ballot initiative to reform the state’s pension system.

June 5, 2010Orange County Government

Bill Hunt Supporters Rally for Constitutional Rights

by Travis1 Comment

Last week supporters of Bill Hunt organized a protest on the steps of the old county courthouse to counter a recent attack on his profession — an attack that is a clear distraction from the issues that are facing the office of Orange County Sheriff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30MKXsDhq3A

Hunt has been criticized by his opponents for his actions as a private investigator, which is essentially evidence gathering in accordance with the 5th and 6th amendments of the U.S. Constitution to counter the power of the state.

June 1, 2010June 1, 2010Orange County Government

An urgent message from Bill Hunt

by Travis4 Comments

Just passing along this letter from Bill Hunt:

STAND UP FOR THE RULE OF LAW AND PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR VOTE IS

Dear Friends and Supporters,

There is a concerted effort by my two opponents to falsely attack me and to try to derail the momentum my campaign is enjoying-thanks to your support. These are the same people that supported and worked for the convicted criminal, Mike Carona. They are employing the same dirty tactics they did last time which was distort the truth, invent “outrage”, and throw everything at me including the kitchen sink to see what would stick. All this to protect their candidate and their interests in the corrupt Carona Administration.

The People vs. The Establishment

Besides a negative hit-piece earlier this week by the Hutchens camp, Team Carona/Team Hunter sent out a ridiculous e-mail blast claiming my campaign has “imploded”. They have orchestrated and coordinated a political attack on my objective work as a Private Investigator on behalf of an individual who was arrested by Santa Ana Police and accused of a specific crime the facts indicated he did not commit. The Rule of Law is being tossed aside for a Code of Silence by SAPD Chief Paul Walters and DA Spokesperson Susan Kang Schroeder. (Both are declared staunch supporters of my political opponents, a fact conveniently omitted in the news accounts of this matter.) These two were trying to be both judge and jury before the case was even heard in court! Now that their actions and motives are being further looked at they are trying to accuse me of being sympathetic toward gang members….Nothing could be further from the truth! What I AM sympathetic towards is our Constitution and The People’s Bill of Rights; specifically in this case, our Fifth Amendment right to due process and our Sixth Amendment right to a defense when charged with a crime.

To quote Mark Twain, “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!”

Thanks to your efforts and support and in contrast to my opponent’s lies, my campaign received almost $80,000 from 3/18 to 5/22 and the contributions continue to come in. We also recently picked up four more endorsements from groups with a common denominator: The Rights of The People! As the Constitutional Candidate in this race, I am humbled and thankful for their support. I am proud to say I am the only Candidate in this race that has active, aggressive support from volunteers and the momentum only continues to grow as we get closer to Election Day.

That being said, I need your help; we can take nothing for granted. I need to raise $25,000 in the next few days so I can continue to effectively battle the lies and distortions being hurled upon me by both Sandra Hutchens and Craig Hunter. This is our chance for They’re scared with good reason. You, the People, are supporting me and they will say and do anything to try to erode that support. Will you please go to my website and contribute whatever you can to help me fight on your behalf? Will you also please forward this message to your family members and friends with an urgent note to ask them to do the same?

If we all pull together over the next week, we can win this Election on June 8th. Thank you for standing with me.

May 31, 2010Local Media

OC Register Chooses Shawn Nelson

by Travis14 Comments

In addition to Steven Greenhut‘s op-ed on Shawn Nelson a few weeks ago, several other Register editorialists have recently decided that Shawn Nelson is the superior candidate for OC Supervisor.

Brian Calle sized up the Supervisor race in Sunday’s print edition. After looking at all three candidates, Calle determined that Sidhu is weak on pensions while Nelson is committed to bold reforms. Calle concluded that the pension issue is inarguably the most important issue facing Orange County right now, “bar none.”

John Seiler wrote on the Orange Punch blog about the $900,000 that the unions have spent trying to defeat Shawn Nelson. Seiler draws some interesting comparisons to John Moorlach’s election in 2006, when the unions also spent big money in a failed attempt to defeat a candidate who was known for being fiscally responsible. At the time, Nick Berardino called Moorlach “the biggest threat in the county to employees’ personal financial security.” Sound familiar?

We’ve been hearing the same message over and over: this race is about the clash of The Unions vs. The Rest of Us. Will that resonate with voters in 2010? Something tells me the answer is an overwhelming “yes”.

May 29, 2010May 29, 2010Behind Closed Doors

Greenhut: Unions use malleable Sidhu to flex power

by Travis2 Comments

Steven Greenhut just put out an impressive piece on the why the public employee unions are throwing everything they can behind Harry Sidhu.

While explaining Sidhu’s appeal to the union bosses, Greenhut writes:

Sidhu has no obvious principles that I can detect. He has agreed to drop OC’s lawsuit against the 2001 retroactive pension hike for deputy sheriffs, which has earned him the unending loyalty of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. He supports the high-speed rail boondoggle. He would not support the Prop. 90 eminent-domain reform. He talks like a conservative at times, but that’s typical in OC — talk like a conservative, then vote like a liberal on the really important stuff.

He closes with this excellent summation of consequences from an (unlikely) Sidhu victory:

If Sidhu wins in Orange County, then the unions will have won an enormous victory in arguably the most union-unfriendly area in the state. They will have made their point loud and clear: If you stand up to us, we will defeat you and will elect our own hand-picked candidate. Forget about pension reform and other union reform issues if they hold sway.

You can read the rest of “Unions use malleable Sidhu to flex power” on Greenhut’s CalWatchdog website.

May 28, 2010Orange County Government

Fullerton Taxpayer Group Endorses Bill Hunt for Sheriff

by Travis4 Comments

We just got this press release from FACT:

The Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers (FACT) has announced its endorsement of Bill Hunt for Orange County Sheriff.

“FACT’s endorsement is based primarily on Bill Hunt’s solid position on the Second Amendment and his sound fiscal agenda for the Sheriff’s Department,” said Jack Dean, president of FACT.

FACT is an alliance of business people and citizen activists who advocate for legislative fiscal restraint, constitutional integrity and property rights.

May 27, 2010May 27, 2010Behind Closed Doors

City Clerk Under Fire: Anaheim Covers for the Sidhu Campaign

by Travis7 Comments

Today the city of Anaheim is taking heavy criticism for its failure to providing open public records. Today’s story from the Voice of OC reinforces my own experience in the lack of transparency, accountability and compliance with state public records laws within Anaheim city hall.

A little while back the city of Anaheim was asked for copies of six months of telephone logs for Harry Sidhu’s campaign manager, Annie Mezzacappa, who also happens to be a city employee. There was reason to believe that Mezzacappa was doing campaign work for Sidhu while on the clock for the city. That’s a big no-no.

After 24 days of stalling by City Clerk Linda Andal, the city sent back a list of three phone calls made on the same day back in January.

Phone-Records — That doesn't seem right...

Three phone calls in 6 months. We can either conclude that either Annie Mezzacappa doesn’t know how to use her telephone or the city of Anaheim is covering for her by violating the public records act. So which is it?

linda-andal — Nothing to see here, move along please.

When questioned about the missing records, Deputy City Attorney Bryn Morley did not seem to think there was anything unusual about an employee who only makes three phone calls in six months. The city attorney had no excuse for the missing records and declined to give any further explanation.

Delaying, denying and obstructing public records requests is a hallmark of a government with something to hide. Apparently that’s the way it goes in Anaheim.

May 25, 2010Coyote Hills

Will the West Coyote Hills Saga End Tonight?

by Travis1 Comment

After 30 years of debate, the city council is expected to vote tonight on the fate of West Coyote Hills. The “Save Coyote Hills” crowd will surely turn out in force, but can they stop the development completely? Unlikely, although council may have enough concerns to cause further delay.

And even if council passes the proposed re-zoning and plan revisions, it’s unlikely that the battle will end here. One commenter has asserted that court action to further delay the project is guaranteed.

Rather than re-hash the multitude of arguments around Coyote Hills, I direct you to Cindy Cotter’s West Coyote Hills blog where she has a decent summary of the most recent council discussions on the subject.

May 23, 2010January 3, 2011About Us

Now Accepting Anonymous Submissions

by Travis14 Comments

I’ve have spoken to several fans of our blog who are interested in writing but are concerned about retribution from those whose kingdoms are under siege. Understandable, as our writers and their families have received vague threats, angry phone calls, curious texts and even some unexpected personal visits by the subjects of our discontent.

Well fear not, Friends. Head over to the Contact page, write down your thoughts, give yourself a clever pseudonym and click Submit. We’ll post your story and nobody will be able to identify you.

Anonymous political speech has a long and proud history in our nation. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote the Federalist Papers under pseudonyms like “Publius” … not that we would dare compare ourselves to such great patriots. Nevertheless, our pursuit of a government accountable to the people does echo the words and spirit of our founding fathers.

As the Supreme Court has recognized, the anonymity of the Internet gives democracy a burst of power not seen since the rise of the printing press:

Protections for anonymous speech are vital to democratic discourse. Allowing dissenters to shield their identities frees them to express critical, minority views . . . Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority. . . . It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation . . . at the hand of an intolerant society.

McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission (1995)

And to those who disregard ideas expressed anonymously:

The merits of a good thought stand on their own, no matter who said it or why it was said. Accepting an idea based on who it came from is nothing more than idolatry, and rejection on that basis is mere bigotry.

So join us in using this new medium to speak out against those who have abused our trust, wasted our resources and taken what does not belong to them for so many years.